An unpleasant smell from the nose can be felt both by the patient himself when inhaling, and felt by the people around him. It stinks especially strongly from the nose in the presence of chronic or untreated diseases of various organs and systems. An unpleasant aroma causes significant inconvenience to the patient, interfering with the usual way of life, becomes the cause of rapid fatigue and headaches. But even if nasal odor is not accompanied by other symptoms, the severity of the condition should not be underestimated. Correct diagnosis and adequate treatment will help eliminate the stench.
Causes
Strange nose odor occurs for a variety of reasons. But most often, the patient will feel a bad smell in the nose when inhaling if there is inflammation in the nasopharynx, which is caused by pathogenic microorganisms. In a situation where the immune system is weakened, bacteria develop intensively. In the course of their vital activity, microbes secrete toxins that provoke an inflammatory process and contribute to the formation of pus. The presence of pus in the nasopharynx causes a fetid odor, as well as other accompanying symptoms.
If there is an unpleasant odor in the nose, then you should take the presence of this symptom seriously and you should definitely seek help from a specialist. However, bacterial infections of the nasopharynx are not the only cause that causes a fetid odor from the nose. An unpleasant symptom can be the result of the pathology of other organs and systems of the human body.
Sinusitis
Feeling an unpleasant odor and bad breath (even immediately after cleaning the nasal passages), the patient can in the presence of such a disease as sinusitis. In this case, inflammation of the sinus mucosa occurs, which is dangerous with the development of serious complications in the form of purulent sinusitis and frontal sinusitis. Along with the fact that the nose smells unpleasant, sinusitis is accompanied by symptoms such as:
- nasal congestion;
- the presence of a viscous secret, which often has a greenish-yellow color;
- general weakness;
- headache;
- increased body temperature.
Important! It should be remembered that with the development of bacterial infections, accompanied by the release of pus, treatment should be carried out with the use of antibacterial drugs.
Rhinitis
An untreated runny nose or improperly prescribed therapy for various types of rhinitis can cause an unpleasant smell from the nose. There are several types of rhinitis that can cause a putrid sensation when inhaling:
- Atrophic rhinitis is a foul-smelling rhinitis, the main distinguishing features of which are the presence of dry crusts on the nasal mucosa, temporary loss of the ability to perceive odors, dryness in the nasopharynx. The causes of this disease are unknown, most likely Ozena is a hereditary disease, and can also manifest itself in people who abuse vasoconstrictor drugs for the nose. Experts note that, according to statistics, atrophic rhinitis is more common in adolescence and mainly among girls.
Important! Dry crusts in the nasal passages, which are formed with atrophic rhinitis, cannot be removed on their own.
As a rule, the treatment of ozena is not complete without the use of antibiotics and drugs that improve metabolic processes in the tissues and mucous membrane of the nasopharynx.
- Prolonged rhinitis caused by bacterial or viral infections, in the final stages of the disease, can cause your nose to stink. This stage is accompanied by the discharge from the nasal passages of a small amount of thick purulent secretion.
- Allergic rhinitis can cause dryness of the nasopharynx, the formation of fetid crusts, burning and itching in the nasal passages. These factors can provoke the development of inflammation, which will lead to the appearance of an unpleasant odor from the nose.
Other factors
The presence of a foreign smell in the nose is not always associated with pathologies of the organs of the nasopharynx. If I smell an unpleasant smell, then we can assume the presence of abnormalities in the work:
- gastrointestinal tract;
- pancreas;
- kidney;
- liver;
- joints and bones;
- endocrine, nervous and other systems.
Unfavorable environmental and sanitary conditions in which a person lives, lack of adequate nutrition, weakened immunity, great physical activity, a sharp decrease in weight - all this also provokes the appearance of an odor in the nose.
Treatment
To understand how to treat a disease accompanied by a stench from the nose, you must make the correct diagnosis. When seeking help from a specialist (otolaryngologist), be prepared for additional diagnostic procedures, such as rhinoscopy, nasal endoscopy, and x-ray examination of the sinuses. It is also important to pass general blood and urine tests, to make a bacterial culture of nasal secretions to determine the resistance of microorganisms to various antibacterial drugs.
Drug treatment
If various diseases of the nasopharynx organs, accompanied by the development of pathogenic microorganisms, have become the cause of the unpleasant odor when inhaling, then the treatment should be aimed at eliminating the pathogen.
When treating an unpleasant odor from the nasal passages, first of all, the cause of the disease should be eliminated.
- So, if an unpleasant symptom is caused by the action of viruses, then antiviral drugs (Groprinosin, Amizon) are used. If a putrid odor in the nose has arisen under the influence of a bacterial infection, antibiotics (Azithromycin, Augmentin) should be used.
- To eliminate swelling of the nasal mucosa and remove thick viscous secretions, use vasoconstrictor drops (Nazol, Nazivin, Vibrocil, Evkazolin).
- Physiotherapy procedures (UHF, inhalation, electrophoresis, Yamik catheter, magnetotherapy) are effective in the complex treatment of diseases of the nasopharynx, while eliminating the unpleasant odor.
Alternative medicine methods
Treatment with folk remedies has a positive effect on the dynamics of recovery and reduces the severity of associated symptoms. Most often, to eliminate unpleasant odor, rinsing of the nasal passages with solutions of antiseptic drugs is used.
- Saline solutions are used as rinsing agents. You can buy them at a pharmacy (Aquamaris, Nosol) or prepare yourself at home from ordinary table or sea salt (a teaspoon of salt in 200 ml of warm boiled water). A drop of iodine can be added to the saline solution to increase the effectiveness of the procedure.
- Also, decoctions of medicinal herbs such as chamomile, sage, eucalyptus are used to liquefy purulent secretions in the nose, moisturize the mucous membrane and eliminate fetid crusts.
Steam inhalation also helps to moisturize the mucous membrane, eliminate unpleasant odors, and destroy pathogenic microorganisms.
- Inhalation over a decoction of bay leaves is considered a good tool in the complex treatment of sinusitis. To do this, take fifteen medium-sized leaves and fill it with hot water. The procedure should be carried out three times a day, lasting ten minutes.
- Treatments with essential oils (tea tree, eucalyptus).
Important! Steam inhalations can be carried out only in the absence of elevated body temperature and allergic reactions to the components of the solution.
It is also important to carry out procedures aimed at general strengthening of the immune system:
- a varied diet rich in vitamins and minerals (fresh fruits, vegetables, berries);
- the use of plant phytoncides with a pronounced antimicrobial effect (garlic, onions);
- use of honey, seaweed in the daily diet;
- daily walks in the fresh air;
- hardening;
- avoid stress;
- give up bad habits (smoking, drinking alcohol).
Prophylaxis
As you know, any disease is easier to prevent than to cure. Therefore, in order to avoid unpleasant odor from the nose, it is necessary to adhere to simple recommendations.
As a preventive measure, it is recommended:
- promptly treat upper respiratory tract infections;
- avoid hypothermia;
- use vasoconstrictor drugs according to the recommendations for use;
- if symptoms of various diseases occur, do not self-medicate.
Bad smell from the nose is an alarming symptom that cannot be considered normal. This symptom may indicate the presence of a number of serious diseases of various organs and systems of the human body. In this case, the putrid odor from the nose and purulent discharge do not go away on their own, being a source of additional infection. Therefore, it is necessary to take seriously the appearance of an unpleasant symptom.
